Dental apparatus.



J. M. GILMORE.

DENTAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATXON FILED APR. 24, 1911.

Patented Nov. 17,'1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

-HE NoRRls PETERS Cu.. PHoroALlTHo., WASHINGTON. D. c

J. M. GILMORE.

DENTAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AP11.24, 1911.

1,1 17,660, Patented N0v.17, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HE MORRIS PETERS Cc PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHING/0N. D C,

FEED STATES PATENT @FF-fCE.

JOHN M. GILIVIORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS.

DENTAL APPARATUS.

To @ZZ Iwhom 'it may concern Be it known that lf, .loi-IN ll. GILMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Gool; and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dental Apparatus, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in dental apparatus of the type involving hand-piece, or holder, containing a rotary element adapted to be driven by either manual or machine powerand constructed to rotate mandrcls of any desired construction, the heads of these mandrels differing in form with the particular work required to be performed by Y them, as for instance, the grinding, cutting,

brushing, burnishing or polishing of teeth or dental structures.

In using grinding, abrading, polishing or brushing mandrels for grinding and polishing teeth, crowns, fillings and inlays, and cleansing teeth, it is highly desirable that water be applied to the part being operated upon, as it prevents heating of the teeth in the case of grinding and polishing, maintains the teeth and the head of the mandrel in clean condition and aids in the cleansing operation, with the result of avoiding pain to the patient, and expediting the respective referred to operations.

One of my objects is to provide dental apparatus of the character referred to which will operate to supply to the portion of the teeth or dental structure being operated on the desired liquid; another object is to provide for the guarding of the cheeks, tongue and gums against injury from contact with the revolving mandrel, which latter in some forms is very liable to inflict injury upon these parts of the mouth, should it contact therewith, whereby danger of injury to the patient is greatly minimized and the operator is given greater freedom of movement, as the use of my invention dispenses with the necessity of the operator using his hand to hold the tongue and cheek away from the mandrel; and another object is to provide means in connection with the hand-piece of the dental engine, for use in the operation of grinding crowns and other dental structures made of expensive metal, for collecting the particles of metal ground from such structures and thereby preventing waste.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 24. 1911.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914:.

serial No. 522,971.

Figure l shows by a view in side elevation the hand-piece of a dental engine provided with a rotary mandrel and equipped with means constructed in accordance with m invention, for supplying fluid to the head of the mandrel and guarding the tongue and cheeks from injury in the use of the instrument. Fig. 2 is a front end view of the liquid-conducting and guarding means shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view of the outer end portion of the hand-piece shown in Fig. l provided with a brush-mandrel of a common form and with means constructed in accordance with my invention for supplying liquid to this and analogous types of mandrel-heads. Fig. l is a view like Fig. 3 showing the band-piece as equipped with a rotary brush for insertion into the lateral pockets be ween diseased teeth and adjacent alveolar process, such as exists in the case of pyorrhea, and with the hand piece equipped with fluid-conducting and guarding means forming the preferred embodiment of my invention when used in connection with brushes of this type and other instruments used in cases of pyorrhea. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the handpiece and {luid-conducting conduit of Fig. 1, equipped with a device constructed in accordance with my invention, for collecting the particles of metal ground from dental structures. Fig. 6 is an end view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5; and Fig. T, a section taken at the line 7 on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

At is represented the hand-piece of a dental engine. this hand-piece being provided internally at its outer end with a rotary chuclvmember (not shown) which is driven from a flexible rotary shaft (not shown) journaled in the hand-piece and connecting therein with the chuck-member, the outer end of the hand-piece being open to permit a mandrel, such as that represented at 6, to be inserted therein into clutching engagement with the chuck-member for rapidly rotating the mandrel. As the construction thus described is a well known form of apparatus and is in practically universal use, the illustration and above description thereof are deemed suiiicient.

rlhe head 7 of the mandrel shown in Fig, 'l is in the form of a grinding-disk, though it will be understood that, as is common in apparatus of this type, mandi-els having heads of various forms and formed of vay Gi) rious materials may be provided for use with these machines.

Surrounding the hand-piece 5 is a tube or conduit 8 which is bent into a spiral, this conduit connecting at one end, as indicated at 9, "with a tube, preferably formed of flexible material such as rubber, which in practice Would lead from a source of supply of the liquid to be supplied to the mandrelhead l', such for instance, rWhere Water only is used, from a faucet, and Where medicaments are to be employed, from a tanlr, as for instance, that represented at 10, which `,vould preferably be supported vabove the head. of the patient and be connected at its lower outlet end 1 With the tube 9, the tank 10 and portion of the tube 9 shown as extending therefrom, being reduced in size as compared with the other parts of the structure shown in l@ ig. 1 for clearness of illus ration. The other' end of the conduit 8 in the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 is bent to form a loop-section 12 which extends beyond the mandrel-head 7, as represented, and forms a guard for the purpose hereinafter stated, the extreme outlet end portion 13 of this conduit being bent back from the guard-section 12 into a position in which it extends in the rearofl the head 7, thereby causing the liquid supply to the conduit 8 to discharge against the rear surface of the mandrel-head 7, the centrifugal force exerted against the liquid thus discharged against the mandrel-head causing it to flou' to the periphery of this head, Where it serves to keep the tooth or other object being operated on by the mandrel, in cool condition, and expedites the grinding, polishing, or cutting operation being performed. rl`he conduit 8, `which may be formed of any suitable material, but which is preferably made of metal tubing, is provided in spiral form, more particularly, to permit the hand-piece 5, when the mandrel 6 is removed, to be inserted into it to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, in Which position the conduit 8 and hand-piece 5 are releasably held together, preferably by the engagement of a ring-section 14 of the conduit 8 With an annular recess in the hand-piece 5, the diameter of this-ring-section being slio'htly less than the diameter of the hand-piece, whereby when the hand-piece is inserted into the spiral conduit 8 the section 14 is slightly expanded and springs into the recess in the handpiece 5. ltivill be understood, however, that the manner of securing the duid-conducting conduit to the hand-piece, as Well as the form in which the conduit is provided, is not of the essence ofmy invention in so far as the more important features thereof are concerned.

The guard-section 12 of the conduit 8 serves in the operation of the instrument to elfectually prevent cutting or otherwise injuring the tongue or cheek, as the guard, when the mandrel is positioned in the mouth for use, is interposed between the parts of the mouth susceptible to injury and the revolving mandrel, the conduit 8, in the preferred construction illustrated, being axially adjustable about the hand-piece 5 to any desired position, thereby permitting the guard to be positioned for effective opera-tion When the instrument is used in any position in the mouth.

ln Fig. 3 I have illustrated the form in which the outlet end, represented at 15, of the conduit 8, may be provided when the mandrel-head, represented at 16,.is in the form of a brush of the same or of a similar type to that illustrated in this figure, or is a relatively small grinding disk, or port polisher. ln these cases, no guard for the mouth is required and the outlet end 15 of the conduit terminates adjacent to the head of the mandrel for delivering the liquid against the latter when in use.

Lln Fig. l l have illustrated the preferred form of the outlet end, represented at 17, of the conduit 8, when used in connection with mandi-els provided with relatively long brushes, as illustrated at 18, or abrading instruments, for treating pyorrhea Where pockets between the roots of the teeth'A and the adjacent alveolar process are required to be cleansed and treated. rlhe outlet end4` ment), discharging therefrom to follow along the brush 18, or abrading instrument, the end 17 of the conduit 8 also serving as a guard when the instrument is used between the teeth and gums, for preventing injury to the latter.

Referring to Figs. 5, Gand 7, the conduitequipped hand-piece 5 is-illustrated as associated with a collecting device 19, for collecting the metal particles ground from dental structures When the hand-piece is used for grinding crowns and other dental structures in the operationof manufacturing them preparatory to securing them in the mouth of the patient. The mandrel 6 of the hand-piece is equipped With a grindingdisk 2O and the device 19 is illustrated as supported on the guard-portion 12 of the conduit 8. The device 19 isin the forml of a reversely bent tube provided at its lower end With a removable, preferably Weighted, cap 21 forming a stopper, and at its upper end is open at one side, as indicated at 22, to permit the disk 2O to project into the device 19, as represented. The collector-device 19 is releasably held on the conduit 8 bymeans of a strap 23 carriedbyy then tube 19, this strap embracing one of the tubular portions of the guard-section 12, the tube 19 bearing at seats 24@ and against the opposed portion of the guard-section 12, as illustrated in the drawings, the tube 19 occupying this position with relation to the hand-piece and the parts carried thereby under the influence ot' gravity action due to the offsetting of the lower end of the tube, as illustrated. The strap 23 is preferably of such a form as will permit the tube 19 to be introduced thereunder for securing this tube to the conduit S, only at a restricted portion 26 thereon, and released from the conduit 8 only when the section 25 registers with the strap. 1t will thus be manifest that when the handpiece is in use and hangs idly from the support of the dental engine, the tube 19 remains suspended from the conduit 8 and is prevented from accidental release therefrom. Then it is desired that the tube 19 be removed from the conduit S, the operator will adjust this conduit into registration at its secti on 26 with the strap and the tube may then be readily disengaged from the conduit. rPhe tube 19, by reason of its shape, will occupy the position shown in the drawings, the tendency of this tube to assume this position, as hereinbefore stated, being augmented by the weighted cap 21.

In use, the operator holds the crown or other dental structure in one hand and the hand-piece in the other, the hand holding the work to be operated on resting upon the ol'set section 27 of the tube. The particles ground from the structure being operated on are thrown from the disk 20, together with the water supplied through the conduit S, by centrifugal action, into the upper open end of the tube 19, from which it gravitates to the lower end of the tube 19, the metal settling to the bottom of this tube. If it is desired to remove the water from the tube 19 before the metal therein is to be removed, the tube may be tilted to permit the water to run out of its upper open end without disturbing the particles of metal which have been collected as heretofore set forth. As the tendency of the tube 19 is to hang at all times with its lower end downward, the danger of spilling the water from the tube is avoided when the operator releases his grip on the hand-piece and permits it to hang from the support of the dental engine.

1t will be understood from the foregoing that while the guard is shown as constituting a section oi the water-conducting tube, my intention is not to limit my invention to a guard so formed, as it may be provided in other suitable forms. The provision of the conduit 8 in the form of a spiral tube presents advantages in a construction of this type, as it not only does not interfere with the perfect control of the hand-piece by the operator, but serves to provide means whereby the operator may obtain a better grip on the hand-piece.

lVhile I have shown the collecting device 1.9 in connection with the conduit-equipped hand-piece, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit my invention to its use in this connection, as it is not necessary that a water-conducting conduit be provided in connection with the collecting-device, as such device may be utilized when the grindingwheel is used in dry condition. Furthermore, so Jfar as the metal-collecting feature of my invention is concerned, the collector may be secured to the hand-piece in any suitable way, and l do not therefore wish to be understood as intending to restrict my invention to securing the collector in the manner illustrated.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. rThe combination with t-he hand-piece of a dental engine provided with a revoluble mandrel, of a tube connected with said handpiece for conducting fluid to the head of the mandrel and provided with a tubular loopsection at the outlet end of the tube, said loop-section extending adjacent to beyond and transversely of the head of the mandrel and having its outlet terminating in the rear of said head, for the purpose set forth.

The combination with the hand-piece of a dental engine provided with an annular recess, oit` a huid-conducting tube made from material osuch stiffness as to retain the form into which it is bent and formed adjacent one end into a rinOf-section adapted to seat in the annular recess on the handpiece, and bent beyond said ring-section into a spiral the convolutions of which surround the hand-piece, whereby said tube is releasably held on the hand-piece.

3. The combination with the hand-piece of a dental engine, of a fluid-conducting tube made from material of such stiffness as to retain the form into which it is bent and formed into a spiral the convolutions of which surround the hand-piece, whereby said tube is releasably held on the handpiece.

4. The combination with the hand-piece of a dental engine provided with a revoluble grinding-disk, of a collecting device carried by said hand-piece and containing an opening adjacent to said disk and operating to intercept and collect the particles ground, by said disk, from the work being operated on.

The combination with the hand-piece of a dental-engine provided with a revoluble grinding-dish, of a receptacle carried by said hand-piece, said receptacle containing, near its upper end, an opening adjacent to said disk and being provided at its lower end with a removable closure and operating to intercept and collect the particles Ground, by said disk, from the work operated on.

6. The combination with the hand-piece of a dental engine provided With a revoluble grinding-disk, of a nieinber carried by said hand-piece and located adjacent to said disk,

.and a collector-device supported on said' member and containing an opening adjacent tosaid disk and operating to intercept and collect the particles ground, by said disk, :from the work operated on.

7'. The combination with the hand-piece of'a dental engineprovided with arevoluble grinding-disk, of a. conduit carried by said hand-piece for supplying liquid to said disk, and a collectondevice carried by said handpiece and containing an opening,` adj acent to said disk and operatino to intercept and collect the particle ground, by said disk, from the Work operated on and the liquid suppliedto said disk.

8. The combination With the hand-piece of a dental engine provided with a revoluble grinding-disk, of a conduit carried by said hand-piece for conducting liquid tosaid disk, said conduit having a section extending transversely ot said disk, and a receptacle supported by said section for intercepting and collecting the particles ground, by said disk, from the Work operated on and the liquid supplied to said disk.

9. In vcombination with the hand-piece of dentalV engine provided with a revoluble grinding-disk, a nien'iber supported on said hand-piece and provided with a U-shaped section extendingl beyond and transversely of said disk, and a receptacle formed of a` tube open at a sidethereof adjacent to said disk and provided with a strap section and seats for engaging respectively With the op posed portions of said U-sliaped section, for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with the hand-piece ci a. dental-engine provided Witli a revoluble` dental-engine provided with a revoluble l mandrel, of a guard therefor carried by the hand-piece and comprising members spaced apart to forni an open channel, said guard extending adjacent to beyond and transversely of the head of the mandrel.

JOHN M. GlLMORE. ln presence oli- A. U. THORIEN, A. C. FisCHER.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

